Hi all,
So my plan was to get the G5RV back in the air, along with a 440 MHz J-
pole (to temporarily be the antenna for my IRLP/Echolink/eventually-
asterisk desktop repeater project), but it was not to be. To make a
long story interesting, lots of things went wrong, and my mast is
still on the ground, as is the G5RV. I hope to have that remedied this
week sometime, snow or no snow, and we have lots of snow.
In the meantime, I've been off the air for too long. I'm going through
radio withdrawal. So I'd been thinking how I could set up my P1
portable vertical to get me on the air in some form or fashion. Well,
my initial plan was to put it on the attic window, where my shack is,
but the gutters on the roof got in the way, and the antenna wouldn't
go all the way up. Plan B. I finally found a spot in my house--at the
top of the stairway on the windowsill--where the antenna clamped and
still had clearance. Never mind that it's inside, not outside. At
least it's up, right?
So, instead of dragging down the K2 and the RF Concepts P2000CW SWR/
wattmeter (which I may do at some point), I instead dragged out the
KX1 and a spare power supply, hooked it all up, and away I went.
Well, the antenna works. Though, as one might suspect, tuning can be a
bit fiddly. After I got the counterpoise stretched out somewhat and
tuned for maximum noise (more or less), I still needed the K2's SWR/
power meter to dial it in more closely. But once I had an SWR below
2:1, it was all good, an I even made a contact on 40 with another QRP
station in Illinois. This was right around 5 PM local, and
unfortunately, the band then decided to change, and I lost him. Still,
considering this is a small, portable antenna that was also inside,
I'd say--not bad, all things being equal.
I'd really like to try out one of those TAK-tennas someone posted
about several months ago. Sounds like it might be a bit of work to put
together and tune, though, and I don't think I know anyone with an
antenna analyzer. Still, I'd like to check one out anyway. Also
wouldn't mind playing with one of those MFJ loop tuners (or anyway,
playing with small magnetic transmitting loops).
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 746-4127 or 888-75-BUDDY
Create your own economic stimulus package:
http://www.powermall.info
|
